News
The next opportunity to meet us and discuss the new didactic concept with us will be at the following conference:
- ChemEd Conference 2023, July 23-27, 2023, Guelph / Canada (oral presentation (with experiments) “Electrochemistry—A Question of Potential” and workshop “The “Mysteries” of Surface Phenomena”)
March 2023
The PowerPoint presentation to the workshop “The “Mysteries” of Surface Phenomena” is published under Teaching Materials/Presentations. The workshop comprises seven experiments that are particularly suitable to illustrate different aspects of surface phenomena.July 2022
26th IUPAC International Conference on Chemistry Education 2022 from 18th to 22th July 2022 in Cape Town /South Africa
At the conference Dr. Regina Rüffler gave the lecture “Genie of Catalysis” with five fascinating experiments on the topic of catalysis (such as the “Dancing Absinthe”) presented as videos (for logistical reasons).
Additionally, she offered the brand-new 90-minute workshop “The “Mysteries” of Surface Phenomena”. After a short theoretical introduction into the topic, the attendees had the opportunity to carry out interesting hands-on experiments at seven stations according to the rotation model.
November 2021
Seven new instructions for demonstration experiments concerning the topic of kinetics were published under Teaching Materials/Demonstration Experiments. On the one hand, the experiments show the whole range of the duration of conversion, which can range from fractions of a second as in the precipitation of zinc carbonate to millions of years as in the conversion of peat into coal (16.2 to 16.5). On the other hand, two methods for measuring reaction rates are also presented (16.7 and 16.8). But catalysis is not neglected either, with an example from enzyme kinetics (19.4). Have fun with the experiments!
October 2021
Six new instructions to demonstration experiments concerning the topics of “Acid-Base Reactions” (7.1, 7.3) and “Transport Phenomena” (20.1 to 20.4) were published under Teaching Materials/Demonstration Experiments.
I think you will have a lot of fun with the experiments when face-to-face sessions are possible again after this awful COVID-19 pandemic.
June 2021
Ten new instructions to demonstration experiments, primarily concerning the topics of “Behavior of Gases” (10.1, 11.1), “Indirect Mass Action” (12.1, 12.3 and 12.5) as well as “Interfacial Phenomena” (15.2, 15.3 and 15.5), were published under Teaching Materials/Demonstration Experiments.
Have fun with the experiments in your lab and the lecture hall! I especially like the so-called “gas law apparatus,“ one of the nice experiments I was able to purchase with the prize money for the “So You Think You Can Demo” contest. With the help of this apparatus, it is very easy to demonstrate quantitatively the relationship between pressure and volume of a constant amount of gas. The apparatus is also small enough to be passed around as hands-on experiment.
March 2021
The 112th MNU Congress (Annual Meeting of the German Association for the Advancement of Teaching in Mathematics and Natural Sciences) took place online for the first time in its history from March 4 to 6. Dr. Rüffler presented the workshop “Teaching Entropy with Fun” where actually the attendees were supposed to perform seven experiments that are particularly suitable to illustrate different aspects of entropy at various stations according to the rotation model. This was unfortunately not possible because of the Corona pandemic, but at least the attendees could do two experiments with everyday objects in front of their screen. There were many encouraging comments of the attendees thanking for the informative lecture and the many experimental suggestions, but I nevertheless hope very much that the next congress will be face-to-face again. However, I took this presentation as an opportunity to put together a much more comprehensive one, which contains many supplementary experiments.
Two new PowerPoint presentations to the topics “Teaching Entropy with Fun” and “The “Secrets” of Mixtures” can be found from now on under “teaching materials”.
May 2020
Our textbook “Physical Chemistry from a Different Angle” was selected by the publishing house Springer as one of more than 500 essential Springer Nature textbooks that are included in a global program to support educators, students and academics affected by coronavirus lockdown!! The book will be available open access until at least the end of July 2020.
April 2020
BCCE 2020 from 18th to 23rd Juli 2020 in Corvallis / USA
Unfortunately, also the BCCE 2020 had to be cancelled due to the global coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Regina Rüffler had planned to give the lecture “Chemical potential-Key in Dealing with Physicochemical Problems” and to present the workshop “Teaching Entropy with Fun,” which had already been accepted by the organizers. The PowerPoint slides for the planned workshop can be found at https://job-stiftung.de/index.php?lectures-2
August 2020
Recently, the “Book Performance Report 2019” for our textbook “Physical Chemistry from a Different Angle” has arrived from our publishing house Springer. Our book was one of the top 25% most downloaded eBooks in the relevant eBook Collection for the fourth time in a row (since its online publication on Dec 29, 2015, there have been a total of 51932 chapter downloads)! A warm “thank you” to all our readers (and also to future readers).
August 2019
As a companion to the textbook “Physical Chemistry from a Different Angle” the corresponding workbook was published on August 6, 2019.
July 2019
ChemEd Conference 2019 from 21st to 25th July 2019 in Naperville / USA
At the conference Dr. Regina Rüffler presented the 60-minute lecture “The “Secrets” of Mixtures” with six fascinating live experiments (such as the “homemade lava lamp”). Additionally, she offered the 90-minute workshop “Teaching Entropy with Fun.” After a short theoretical introduction into the topic, the attendees had the opportunity to perform experiments at seven stations according to the rotation model. Both contributions were very well received.
Three new instructions to demonstration experiments concerning the topic of homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures (chapter 13 in the textbook “Physical Chemistry from a Different Angle”) were published under Teaching Materials/Demonstration Experiments. In addition, numerous instructions have been updated. Have fun with the experiments in your lab!
June 2019
Recently, the “Book Performance Report 2018” for our textbook “Physical Chemistry from a Different Angle” has arrived from our publishing house Springer. Our book was one of the top 25% most downloaded eBooks in the relevant eBook Collection in 2018 (since its online publication on Dec 29, 2015, there have been a total of 43097 chapter downloads)! A warm “thank you” to all our readers (and also to future readers).
March 2019
Twelve new instructions to demonstration experiments were published under Teaching Materials/Demonstration Experiments. In addition, numerous instructions have been updated. Have fun with the experiments in your lab!
November 2018
Selected PowerPoint presentations to various topics of the new teaching concept can be found from now on under “teaching materials”.
July 2018
25th International Conference on Chemistry Education (ICCE 2018) from 10th to 14th July 2018 in Sydney / Australia
At the conference Dr. Regina Rüffler presented the experimental lecture “Making Friends with the “Black Sheep” Entropy”. The lecture was supplemented by the 90-minute workshop “Teaching Entropy with Fun”. After a short theoretical introduction into the topic, the attendees had the opportunity to perform experiments at seven stations according to the rotation model. The lecture and especially the workshop aroused great interest.
May 2018
Recently, the facebook page of the foundation was launched. Here, you will find fascinating demonstration experiments, tips how to carry them out but also how to teach physical chemistry in a vivid way.
I am looking forward to meeting you virtually and to reading your interesting comments.
April 2018
Recently, the “Book Performance Report 2017” for our textbook “Physical Chemistry from a Different Angle” has arrived from our publishing house Springer. Our book was one of the top 25% most downloaded eBooks in the relevant eBook Collection in 2017! A warm “thank you” to all our readers (and also to future readers).
July 2017
ChemEd 2017 Conference from 23th to 27th July 2017 in Brookings (SD) / USA
Dr. Regina Rüffler was selected as one of the “TOP 3 Finalists” of the “So You Think You Can Demo” video contest because of her video „The Fascinating World of Oscillations in Chemistry“. She won the first prize for her presentation live on stage during the opening ceremony of the conference. Additionally, Dr. Regina Rüffler gave the experimental lecture “Teaching Entropy with Fun”. The contribution attracted wide interest and was also commented on twitter (i.a. „Regina Rueffler just blew minds with talk on entropy. Made it easier to understand if discussed as the whole system #ChemEd17 Talk to her!”).
May 2017
Submission of the video “The Fascinating World of Oscillations in Chemistry” to the “So You Think You Can Demo” contest on occasion of the ChemEd 2017 conference
September 2016
A first review about the textbook “Physical Chemistry from a Different Angle” was published in Choice, the journal of the “American Library Association”:
“Strengths of the work are its focus on entropy and chemical potential; the promotion of an intuitive, insightful internalization of concepts; and a strong emphasis on experiments illustrating concepts through sketches and videos … . Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.” (A. Viste, Choice, Vol. 53 (10), p. 1497)
August 2016
International Conference on Chemical Thermodynamics (ICCT) 2016 from 21st to 26th August 2016 in Guilin / China
At the conference Dr. Regina Rüffler gave the experimental lecture “Teaching Entropy—An Alternative Approach” and presented the poster “Entropy—Viewed Through the “Glasses” of Demonstration Experiments” together with the corresponding video presentation. Both contributions were very well received and led to lively discussions. Especially the numerous demonstration experiments aroused great interest.
In preparation for the conference ten new instructions of demonstration experiments concerning the topic “entropy” were completed and four new videos were made.
January 2016
Publication of the textbook “Physical Chemistry from a Different Angle” by Springer (ISBN 978-3-319-15666-8)
July 2015
ChemEd 2015 Conference from 28th July to 1st August 2015 in Kennesaw / USA
At the conference Dr. Regina Rüffler gave the experimental lecture “Genie of Catalysis”. During the exhibition on occasion of the conference the textbook “Physical Chemistry from a Different Angle” which will be published in fall 2015 was presented. Additionally, Dr. Regina Rüffler participated at the contest “So you think you can demo” with the video “Forgetful Barkeeper—Chemical Magic“. She was selected as one of the “TOP 3 Finalists” and competed live on stage.
July 2014
International Conference on Chemical Thermodynamics (ICCT) 2014 from 28th July to 1st August 2014 in Durban / South Africa
Dr. Regina Rüffler presented the experimental lecture “Applying Chemical Potential—Mixtures in Focus” and the poster “Chemical Thermodynamics—Viewed Through the “Glasses” of Demonstration Experiments” together with the video presentation “Chemical Potential in Experiments.” Both contributions aroused great interest and led to lively discussions.
July 2013
ChemEd 2013 Conference from 28th July to 1st August 2013 in Waterloo / Canada
Dr. Regina Rüffler gave the experimental lecture “Chemical Potential in Focus—Osmosis and more”. Additionally, she participated at the contest “So you think you can demo” with the video “What a Duck Can Teach Us About Thermodynamics“. She was selected as one of the “TOP 3 Finalists” and competed live on stage.
August 2012
International Conference on Chemical Thermodynamics (ICCT) 2012 from 5th to 10th August 2012 in Búzios / Brazil as well as presentations at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas in Campinas / Brazil and at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogotá / Colombia
At the conference, Dr. Regina Rüffler gave the the experimental lecture “Chemical Potential in Focus—Flow of Substances and its Consequences” which focuses on the application of chemical potential on the field of colligative phenomena such as osmosis and presented the poster “Chemical Potential—Important Key to the Understanding of Chemical Thermodynamics“ together with the video presentation “Chemical Potential in Experiments”.
Subsequently, she visited the Universidade Estadual de Campinas and gave there the presentation “Teaching Thermodynamics–Chemical Potential from the Beginning.”
Finally, the experimental lecture “Chemical Potential in Focus” was given at the Departamento de Física of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia with which a close collaboration exists. The lecture received high approval.
September 2011
40 Years Job GmbH - 10 Years Job Foundation
The Job GmbH in Ahrensburg was established in 1971 by Dipl.-Ing. Eduard J. Job. The company is today a world market leader for thermal glass bulbs for sprinkler. The members and friends of the Job foundation sincerely congratulate on its 40th anniversary. The Job foundation itself was founded by Eduard J. Job in the beginning of 2002. It can therefore look back on nearly 10 years of successful activity in the field of improving the teaching of chemistry and physics at schools and universities.
October 2010
The textbook "Physical Chemistry - An Introduction with New Concept and Numerous Experiments" (in German) was published by Vieweg+Teubner, Wiesbaden on October 14, 2010 (ISBN 978-3-8351-0040-4).
Also in October the Chinese version of the book "A New Concept of Thermodynamics" was published by the East China University of Science and Technology Press (ISBN 978-7-5628-2719-1).
September 2010
In April 2010 our website was visited at the first time more than twenty thousand times in a month. We would like to sincerely thank all users for their continous interest.
August 2010
21st International Conference on Chemical Education (ICCE) from 8th to 13th August in Taipei / Taiwan
At the conference the experimental lecture "Chemical Potential in Focus - Flow of Substances and its Consequences" was given and the poster presentation "Chemical Potential - Key in Dealing with Physicochemical Problems" together with the video presentation "Chemical Potential in Experiments" was shown. Both contributions aroused great interest and led to lively discussions.
In August also a week-long seminar for Chinese physics teachers took place in Shanghai. The teachers were prepared for the adoption of the "Karlsruhe Physics Course" in the coming school year.
Juli 2010
Chapter 11 "Flow of Substances" of the textbook "Physical Chemistry - An Introduction with New Concept and Numerous Experiments" discussing diffusion and colligative phenomena and the instructions of corresponding demonstration experiments are now translated into English.
May 2010
The "Karlsruhe Physics Course" was presented at the Forum on Teaching and Textbook of University" which took place from 21th to 23th May 2010 in Beijing.
February 2010
Participation at the APS/AAPT Joint Meeting (American Physical Society and American Association of Physics Teachers), Washington DC (USA), February 13-17, 2010 (lecture and poster).
January 2010
The "Karlsruhe Physics Course" for Senior Secondary School in Chinese language is now available at the Shanghai Educational Publishing House.
October 2009
Visit of a second Chinese delegation from October 12 to October 17, 2009 for a round table discussion with the KPK group (Karlsruhe Physics Course) in Karlsruhe:
Mr. Lu Bohong (Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Deputy Director of the Teaching and Research Section), Mr. Bao Nanlin (President of the Shanghai Education Publishing House), Mrs. Tang Qingxiu (Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Physics Teaching Researcher of the Teaching and Research Section), Mr. Wang Tiehua (Deputy Headmaster of the Highschool attached to the Jiaoutong University, Special-grade Senior Teacher in Physics), Mr. Wang Yang (Headmaster of No. 2 Shanghai Caoyang High School, Senior Teacher in Physics), Mr. Wang Hong (Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Chief Staff of the Teaching and Research Section). more...
Presentation of the Chinese version of the "Karlsruhe Physics Course" (for Junior Secondary School) at the Frankfurt Book Fair (October 14 - 18, 2009, Century Publishing Group, hall 4.2, stand 411)
July 2009
International Congress of Science Education, July 15-18, 2009, Cartagena de Indias and lecture at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, July 23, 2009, Bogotá
At the congress the oral presentation "Teaching Thermodynamics - A New Concept" together with video presentation "Chemical Potential in Experiments" was shown. Both contributions aroused great interest and led to lively discussions.
Subsequently, the lecture "Teaching Thermodynamics: Chemical Potential from the Beginning" (with a focus on the application spectrum in physics) was given at the Departamento de Física of the Universidad Nacional with which a close collaboration exists. The lecture received high approval.
April 2009
A Chinese delegation visited Karlsruhe from April 21 to April 28, 2009 for a round table discussion with the KPK group (Karlsruhe Physics Course):
Mr. Ning Yanfeng (Associate Senior Editor of the Shanghai Educational Publishing House), Prof. Dr. Wu Guobin (University of Shanghai for Science and Technology), Mr. Fang Honghui (Editor in Chief of the Chnese Karlsruhe Physics Course).
August 2008
Poster prize awarded to Dr. Rüffler
20th International Conference on Chemical Education, August 3-8, 2008, Pointe aux Piments / Mauritius
In the run-up to the conference the first "Virtual Conference on Chemical Education" took place from 1st to 25th July 2008. The Job foundation participated with two contributions: "Teaching Thermodynamics - A New Concept" and "Chemical Potential from the Beginning." 375 participants from 44 countries lively discussed all contributions.
At the conference itself the oral presentation "Chemical Potential from the Beginning" was given and the poster presentation "Teaching Thermodynamics - A New Concept" together with the video presentation "Chemical Potential in Experiments" was shown. Both contributions led to lively discussions. The poster also won a prize during the "closing ceremony" of the conference.
June 2008
Chapter 2 ("Electrical Systems") and Chapter 3 ("Heat, Fluids, and radiation") of the virtual learning environment for „Physics as a Systems Science“ have been implemented in analogy to Chapter 1.
January 2008
The Chinese version of the Karlsruhe Physics Course will be tested at 11 Shanghai middle schools. In addition, the SEPH (Shanghai Educational Publishing House) has distributed about 2400 textbooks to 875 other middle schools in Shanghai.
December 2007
Prof. Hans U. Fuchs of the Zurich University of Applied Science develops at the moment together with Prof. George Ecoffey and Dipl.-Ing. Edy Schütz an extensive virtual learning environment for „Physics as a Systems Science“, a project supported by the Job Foundation. The main structure of the Web version and the first chapter „Storage und Flow of Fluids“ that are now available on the internet give an excellent first impression of the entire project.
November 2007
The Chinese version of the homepage is now available.
October 2007
from left to right: Yan Feng Ning (SEPH), Bao Nanlin, Xu Dianfang, Eduard Job, Friedrich Herrmann, Wade Sha.
The school book series "The Karlsruhe Physics Course" (for Junior Secondary School) in Chinese (translation sponsored by the Job foundation) was presented on October 14, 2007 in Shanghai during a ceremonial act under the patronage of the China Educational Ministry. Participants were the Deputy Director of the Teaching Research Section of the Shanghai Municipal Educational Commission Xu Dianfang, the director of the Shanghai Educational Publishing House (SEPH) Bao Nanling, Prof. Friedrich Herrmann (Department of Didactics of Physics of the University of Karlsruhe), Eduard Job, the founder of the Job foundation and numerous representatives of authorities and schools.
August 2007
During the 41st IUPAC World Chemistry Congress (August 5-11, 2007, Torino / Italy) the symposium "Chemical Potential: A Quantity in Search of Recognition" sponsored by the Job foundation took place. Additionally, the posters "Chemical Potential in Kinetics", "An Elementary Approach to Quantum Statistical Problems", "The Avogadro´s Constant and the Elementary Portion of any Substance" and "The Archimedian Reaction" were presented.
Juli 2007
The videos "Iron(III) Thiocyanate Equilibrium", "Drinking Duck" and "Annealing of Silver Oxide" are ready and can be found in the redesigned section Materials/Experiments.
Also four chapters of the lecture notes "Physical Chemistry - An Introduction with new Concept and numerous experiments" are now available (see Materials/Lecture Notes).
April 2007
An Italian version of the homepage is now available.
November 2006
The Spanish version of the homepage is now available.
August 2006
Participation at the conference Thermo International 2006, July 30 – August 4, 2006, Boulder, Colorado / USA with an oral ("Teaching Thermodynamics: Chemical Potential from the Beginning") and a poster presentation ("Teaching Thermodynamics - A New Concept").
Juli 2006
The video films to the demonstration experiments „Carbide Lamp”, “Ammonia Fountain” and “Boiling by Cooling” are ready and can be found under Materials/Experiments.